Subaru STi

Its still a theft target, but the performance star of the Subaru line-up has earned its reputation.

Subaru STi

10 September 2010Joshua Dowling

New Subaru STi is a real bullet

Philosophy: Catch me if you can.

Trivia: This is the faster and more powerful 2006 model. The STi is such a potential theft target, it has an anti car-jacking system (the engine cuts out when the door opens and the driver's seatbelt is unclipped). The security system means there are few thefts. Those that have been nicked were taken from dealerships at night (and the keys were stolen).

Who's buying it: Performance purists and those who appreciate and understand the STi's technology.

Why you'd buy it: Porsche-like acceleration and grip for a fraction of the price.

Why you wouldn't: You're the shy type who might not be a fan of the look-at-me appearance. It's not a fun place to be during double demerit points seasons.

Standard equipment: The works. Notably, the climate-controlled air-conditioning, sports seats and cruise control make life easier in such a brutally-quick car.

Safety: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes and extremely high levels of grip thanks to the road/race tyres and Subaru's all-wheel-drive system. Ironically, the fastest car in the Subaru fleet is now the only one to not have side air bags, because it has unique seats. (The Impreza's side air bags are usually mounted in the side bolsters of the front seats.)

Seating: Superb sports seats keep you pinned in place in tight turns. That's a good thing, given the lateral forces this car is capable of producing.

Engine: The engine has grown from a 2.0-litre turbo to a 2.5-litre turbo and now has 206kW and 392Nm of torque. It's a welcome improvement as the power comes on stream much earlier and the car is more driveable around town.

Transmission: Six-speed manual. Notchy. A Subaru trademark.

Steering: The steering is more evenly weighted from turn to turn.

Ride: An owner of the previous model could be forgiven for having a chiropractor's business card in their wallet, the ride was so sharp. The new model is still firm, but it's not as bone-jarring as before. Thank you, Subaru.

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Handling: The Bridgestone tyres are a special road and race compound and, in the dry, stick like a bad reputation. In the wet, some caution is required as they have less grip than normal tyres.

Brakes: Race-bred Brembo brakes work a treat but the pedal feels hard and lacks bite. Not my favourite aspect of an otherwise impressive car.

Warranty: Three years/unlimited kilometres.

Security: PIN-coded alarm (four digits must be punched in before the car will start) is criticised by motoring journalists but owners love it. They know it keeps their car safe.

Audio: Below average sound from AM/FM radio with six-CD player.

Cost: There is only one model and it is $56,990, an increase of $360 on the model it replaces. Subaru Australia deliberately keeps cars in short supply at this time of year so it's not left with a surplus of 2005 models in January. Discounts will be rare on the new model for the next few months at least.

Verdict: The new nose may be getting all the attention but it's what's under the skin that has made the biggest difference to the new Subaru STi. With the various improvements and refinements, it's better than it's ever been. It might even be liveable day-to-day.